Oaths Under Moonlight

The sun had just set when we left our village. Udraq walks just a step behind me with torch in hand. Four other orc warriors follow: guardsman Moklok, one-eyed Wug, and the twins Argo and Bargo. The Lord-Human's tomb is not too far but the Deepwood at night still has its perils, so we travel in six same as hunters and scavengers when traversing dangerous territory.

Eventually the forest parts and the tomb atop the small hill comes into view. In front of the doors is a white, bulbous object. Lady Sofi is sitting at her tree stump with Thariam standing next to her. They seem to be discussing something. Far to the left is a campfire with a boar slowly roasting atop it. Our group walks towards the pair and Thariam is the first to speak.

"Griz, what's going on?"

He eyes the others behind me with clear concern.

"I could ask you the same."

"Ahh, well, the human came back out again a few hours ago. He demanded we bring him food so..."

Thariam glances at Lady Sofi and they share a look.

"And where is the lord-human now?"

He points his thumb at the white bulbous thing. Now that we're closer, it's looking more like a giant flower bud.

"Did Lady Sofi make this?"

I ask Thariam as I reach out my hand to touch it.

"No, it just sprouted from the ground, amazing what humans are capable of eh?"

"You jest but what if the lord-human could do exactly that?"

He looks like he's about to give a snarky retort but the words get caught in his throat. His conflicting thoughts on the matter becomes apparent in his eyes. I don't blame him. Just this morning he thought humans and their miracles to be nothing more than tales of the distant past.

I step away from the flower bud before addressing Lady Sofi.

"We would like to speak to the Lord-Human."

"The human is sleeping."

This is unfortunate. The Lord-Human's presence is vital if I am to convince Udraq to fight with me, but waking the Lord-Human from his slumber would be rude. I turn back to Udraq.

"Perhaps... we can come again in the morning."

He is none too pleased with my suggestion. Time is not on our side after all. The longer I stay with the clan, the more likely the Elves will retaliate on all of us for what I did. Even returning tomorrow morning would be pushing it...

"I'll go wake him up."

"No, Lady Sofi, we-"

"Ken. Visitors. Come."

"...? What tongue was that?"

"The human's."

"The Lord-Human's?! Since when did you speak the Lord-Human's tongue!?"

Even Thariam stares at Lady Sofi with yellow eyes wide.

"A few hours ago. I spoke with him. Learned his words. Not all but a much."

Lady Sofi's voice is soothing and nonchalant. I've come to expect as much from her after years of living in the Deepwood, but even so, learning even a little of the human tongue is nothing to scoff at. They left behind ruins and treasures but few written texts. It is said that they had little need for writing since they could read each others' thoughts.

The giant bud begins to move. It's unraveling, no, blooming. The silvery blue moonlight bounces off the white petals, giving it a soft glow. When the petals finally reach the ground, the Lord-Human is revealed. He stands tall and proud, his piercing eyes sparkle with a multitude of colors. Then, he raises his hand.

"Kneel."

I fall to one knee immediately, head bowed with reverence. I see Udraq, though reluctantly at first, bow as well. The rest follow his lead.

"Lord-Human, I bring with me my clan chief, Udraq. He wishes to speak to you, if you allow it."

The Lord-Human remains stoic and silent, but Lady Sofi begins to speak once again in human tongue. Oh how I wish I could speak it as well. Perhaps I will ask Lady Sofi to teach me later.

"He says you may speak."

Before I even get the chance to reply, Udraq stands and steps forward past me. So close to the Lord-Human, the smaller and more fragile figure of the Lord-Human is made apparent, yet the Lord-Human stands unmoved and unbothered.

"Apologies lord-human, but i am not one for needless words. Why have you awoken from your tomb? Why did you grant Griz ascension? What do you plan to do here in the Deepwood? In our land?"

That last question almost sounded like a threat. I clench my jaw. I do not appreciate Udraq's behavior towards the Lord-Human, my great benefactor. But... I understand. He has his duty to uphold.

Lady Sofi's face tends to be hard to read but even I could tell she feels troubled. Having to translate all that can't be easy, but she exchanges words with the Lord-Human nonetheless. She looks to us, no, past us. She points out to the distant starry horizon.

"He wants what is outside the Deepwood. He wants the city."

Udraq shifts his gaze to Lady Sofi with a raised brow.

"The city outside the Deepwood? You mean Everen? The capital city of the elves? He wants their city?"

Lady Sofi once again relays his words. The Lord-Human is shaking his head in disagreement, then Lady Sofi faces us again. Her tone of voice carries little weight of importance, as usual, but the words she speak silences us all.

"The elves. He wants the city, and the elves."

...Ha! Hahaha! I had thought that the Lord-Human rose from his tomb to hear my prayers. I had thought that this blessing he gave me was a gift for my devotion. How could I think so little of the Lord-Human, of the race that once ruled all of Gaea. Of course this was all for a greater reason, for his grand design.

At this point, the Lord-Human is practically whispering his words to Lady Sofi.

"He gives you a gift, to thank you for your aid."

Lord-Human stares down Udraq intensely. The colors of his eyes changes faster for a moment. Then he raises his hand, and points a finger towards Udraq. It seems we are both chosen this day. We two are ascendants, the Lord-Human's ascendants.

Udraq staggers, dropping his torch but remains on his feet. His muscles grow and his frame expands. He too stands taller than the average orc, except his skin is neither red nor green. It is a cool blue. I have never seen an orc like this, probably no one in our clan has, but we have heard tales of them - Frost Orcs. They are said to inhabit the coldest regions of the Frostlands and can only do so with a regenerative constitution that keeps even frostdeath at bay.

I stand and place a hand on Udraq's shoulder. He turns around and although his body has changed, his eyes have not. 

"How do you feel, brother?"

"...I see now what possessed you to think attacking the elves alone was a good idea. This is more than just power."

Udraq stares down at his hands, then looks to the orcs behind me. He moves towards them, towards one-eyed Wug. He raises his open palm in front of Wug's face.

"Hael"

Frost sprays from his hand onto Wug. He flinches, taking a step back and raising his arms to cover his face, but relaxes soon enough. Wug's right eye is a marbled white, shot by an elf years ago, it's a miracle in and of itself the arrow didn't go all the way through, but Udraq could not heal the blindness it left. Not then.

Now, it is different. The cracked scar running vertical on his pupil fades and the color of his eye takes its place. He focuses his eyes left to right, taking in each of our faces, and our surroundings. His mouth is open but no words are spoken, no words are needed. He looks to Udraq with awe and gratitude. No longer will he be called one-eyed Wug.

Udraq glances to his side, to me, and nods a slow nod. Firm, with conviction. I know that look. His decision is made, and he is in agreement. He turns his entire body around and faces the Lord-Human with a straight back and a head held high. His fist thuds against his chest in salute as he gives his declaration with resolution in his voice.

"This gift extends to all of us in our clan. Many lives will be saved. Many lives will be changed. And for that, many will be willing to risk it. In your name, for your ambition. I, Udraq'Ulam, Chief of Clan Khalos of the Deepwood, swear upon the pride of my lineage that you will have your city, great Lord-Human of the Deepwood."

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"I was expecting to give great effort in convincing you, Udraq. But I suppose it's difficult to say no to the Lord-Human once you experience his miracles yourself."

Our group is just about to leave the vicinity of the tomb. Ahead the path home is lit by the moon. Thankfully there are few clouds tonight. The other orcs walk ahead of us. Udraq and I take the rear and exchange thoughts. We look behind us and watch the Lord-Human eat the roasted boar Thariam hands to him.

"I admit I came here with nothing but skepticism in my heart. Even if the human you spoke of was real, unlike you I am not so eager to bend the knee and believe the words of an outsider with intentions unknown to us."

"Yet you did."

A wordless moment pass. Our heavy footsteps and the rusting of leaves against the wind fills the pause.

"The Lord-Human is... uncanny. He demanded a city and its people yet I saw neither malice nor self-important pride you would expect from someone who would think others beneath them. Like those so-called nobles from the kingdoms."

"But of course! The Lord-Human has character far above those self-proclaimed monarchs."

"It is worrying."

"Why? Would you rather he acted that way?"

"No, Griz. Think. He gave away this power before any oath was made. He bargained for a kingdom as if trading pelts for wood, and he did so as if it were a foregone conclusion."

"Speak plainly, Udraq. What is it that bothers you? And if it were such a problem, why promise him Everen?"

Udraq lets out an exasperated sigh.

"The Lord-Human thinks too little of matters that affect tens of thousands of lives. Those lives most likely include ours. I do think siding with someone who holds such power is wise, but I cannot say if in the future we can rely on the Lord-Human to see us as anything more than disposable tools. If that comes to pass, what then?"

"Then we must simply convince him of our usefulness and loyalty! Udraq, I understand that our clan's future is a constant weight you must carry as chief, but you are thinking about too many things all on your own. Allow me to be the one to worry about relations with the Lord-Human."

"...You wish to be an emissary?"

"No. I wish to be Lord-Human's spokesman. I shall learn the human tongue just as Lady Sofi. I shall become he who conveys the Lord-Human's will to our clan, and eventually to all orc clans!"

"Griz, you... Fine. Perhaps you are right. I have enough on my plate as chief, I give this matter to you. Griz'Garzo of Clan Khalos, can I count on you to ensure continued cordial relations with the Lord-Human of the Deepwood tomb?"

Pride wells within me and escapes through the curled corners of my mouth.

"With great pleasure, my chief."